Last chance to see 'Cleopatra'

'Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt' is open through… (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO )

December 30, 2010|By Kathy Lauer-Williams, OF THE MORNING CALL

It's a don't miss exhibit and this is your last chance.

"Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt" closes Sunday at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. The museum is extending its hours through Sunday and offering free parking to Cleopatra ticket-holders Saturday.

The museum will be open daily 9:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. daily, with the last entry at 7 p.m.

The world premiere exhibition features 150 artifacts unearthed in Egypt and the ancient harbor of Alexandria during the search for the tomb of Cleopatra and Mark Antony. Included are giant statues, jewelry, coins, religious tokens and a papyrus document containing an inscription believed to be written in Cleopatra's own hand. There's also an alabaster head, barely six inches high, that provides the first glimpse of the real Cleopatra. None of these items has been exhibited in the United States before, and many are on public display for the first time.

There also will be interactive Cleopatra-themed arts all weekend. You can learn about how Cleopatra tested various poisons and see how archaeologists used different techniques to unearth the objects in the exhibit.